The only song I can't stand is Ryan Adams' live version of "Nervous Breakdown." For one thing, the song is on the disc earlier, with none other than original Black Flag vocalist Keith Morris, but it's slowed down significantly and Ryan Adams just plain sucks. Thankfully, it's the last song on the disc, so you've already gone through the good stuff at that point. The entire collection is also missing that unique Greg Ginn guitar sound. In a perfect world, Henry would have gotten Greg to come in and play on the disc, but alas, it's not meant to be. Jim Wilson does a great job of trying to fill those shoes, but Greg had a unique sound that only he can duplicate. Of all the covers of various Black Flag songs I've heard over the years, these are the closest to the original feel. The sound is cleaner, the mix is clearer and the playing is solid.
The "bonus" disc I got when I ordered it off of Amazon doesn't bring that much additional material in reality. It's billed as a "5 track promo/interview disc" but it actually has 12 tracks, 5 of which are songs from the actual disc. The other seven tracks are Henry Rollins introducing and/or talking about the benefit and how it came to be and a brief overview of the songs on the sampler. Since there are no extra songs that aren't on the disc, it's a nice little thing to have, but definately not necessary in any way.
I absolutely love this disc. Not only am I supporting The West Memphis Three, a cause I believe in (see my original writeup about this disc), but I also got 24 re-recorded Black Flag songs with different singers. The songs are fantastic, the cause is justice. I highly reccomend that you pick up this disc.
For more on the West Memphis Three see here.
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Article comments
1 - Chris
Rollins is also auctioning off a guitar used and signed by many of the artist during the "Rise Above" sessions, with the proceeds going to the WM3. The auction can be viewed here.
2 - Tristan
This is a fantastic "cause" and there have been many prominent celebrities and artists get behind this group of three young boys that were tried and unjustly convicted of murder in Arkansas. One of the three boys was sentenced to death and has been on death row awaiting execution for almost 10 years now.
Metallica also has helped support them.
The site that tells all the pertinent background info and gives you the most current updates on their case and the current status of their appeals is:
http://wm3.org/